Be the Change, by Michelle Nunn: on Principles & Values
Bill Frist:
Doctoring improves a life; public service improves many
As someone who took up public life as a 2nd vocation, I'm often asked, "Why would a successful surgeon want to become a senator?" It's simple. When you boil it down to its essence, medicine exists to improve the life of another human being.
Public service exists to serve the best interests of the citizen. Thus, the underlying motivation for surgeons and senators is exactly the same.
However, I learned long ago that some vehicles allow us a greater reach than others. As a physician, I was able to help one person at a time.
As a senator, I can work to help millions of Americans--in Tennessee and across the nation--whom I could never serve on a one-to-one basis.
Source: Be the Change, by Michelle Nunn, p.197
Nov 1, 2006
Elizabeth Dole:
Character provides sense of direction & means to fulfillment
Whether on the floor of Congress, in the boardroom of corporate America, or in the corridors of a big city hospital, there is no body of professional expertise and no anthology of case studies that can supplant the force of character.
Character provides both a sense of direction and a means to fulfillment. It asks not what you want to be, but who you want to be. For in the final analysis, it is your moral compass that counts for more than any bank balance or resume.
Source: Be the Change, by Michelle Nunn, p.164
Nov 1, 2006
Jimmy Carter:
My faith goes beyond religion and requires work
I have one life and one chance to make it count for something.I am free to choose what that something is, and the something I've chosen is my faith. Now, my faith goes beyond theology and religion and
requires considerable work and effort. My faith demands--this is not optional--my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have, to try to make a difference.
Source: Be the Change, by Michelle Nunn, p. 23
Nov 1, 2006
Michelle Nunn:
Leaders of all great faith traditions lived lives of service
Across all of the great faith traditions, we find absolute alignment and clarity around the example of service and the commandments to serve others. Moses, Jesus, Krishna, Buddha, and Muhammad all lived out the life of service.
They manifest the divine, not through their temporal power or wealth, but through the powerful example of their sacrifice and service to others.
Jesus healed the sick and ministered to the poor and the needy. Buddha sought to alleviate the suffering of the world through his own personal transformation and by sharing these principles with the world.
Muhammad gave away his wealth in order to live in solidarity with the poor.
Source: Be the Change, by Michelle Nunn, p. 9
Nov 1, 2006
Michelle Nunn:
Those whom we revere give of themselves
Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, Jonas Salk, Clara Barton: These are the hallowed names of people who live in our historical imagination. Yet none of them held elected office. None of them ran corporations or made millions of
dollars. Although our society admires celebrity and material reward, those whom we most revere give of themselves and make a difference for others.
The problem is that these iconic figures have become so lionized that it is impossible to aspire to be like them. They seem to be of another world, one of superheroes and saints. Yet the transformations they achieved--in the world and in themselves--
ARE within our reach.I have seen firsthand that ordinary people are capable of superhero-like accomplishments. My hope is that this book prompts you to believe that you can, in the words of Gandhi, "be the change you wish to see in the world."
Source: Be the Change, by Michelle Nunn, p. x
Nov 1, 2006
Michelle Nunn:
Don't let petty frustrations get in the way of commitment
Changing the world is hard. If it were easy, it would have already been done. While our stories of change tell us of the bounty and unexpected gifts of service, they also tell us that we will run into obstacles and frustrations.
There are small and large impediments to making a difference. A clear theme emanating from our stories is not to let the petty frustrations of your experience get in the way of your action or commitment.
It also helps to keep the big picture in mind--whether that's the person you are trying to help or the policy change you are trying to effect.
At the same time that you are mindful of the larger issue, don't get lost in the immensity of a problem. You can lose sight of your own power to make a difference if you become overwhelmed by the magnitude of a challenge.
Source: Be the Change, by Michelle Nunn, p. 95-96
Nov 1, 2006
Michelle Nunn:
Built "Hands On Atlanta" over 17 years to 100,000 volunteers
I met a couple of people in Atlanta who were starting a new organization. The group of 12 individuals who eventually formed Hands On Atlanta contributed $50 each and their own sweat equity to create a new, dynamic, and flexible model for getting their
peers--starting with young adults--involved in the community.When I met these 12 founders, they had given a donation of $2,500 and a small space in a local business office, and they were ready to hire a staff person. I joined, with the glorified title
of executive director, working 10 hours a week with a job commitment of a couple of months to get the organization going. What I discovered was a meaningful way of making a difference in my home state and the opportunity to grow an organization and a
civic change movement.
17 years later, I have watched this fledgling effort grow into a dynamic organization and volunteer movement that has truly shaped the civic life of Atlanta. Today, Hands On Atlanta engages more than 100,000 volunteers each year.
Source: Be the Change, by Michelle Nunn, p.306-307
Nov 1, 2006
Michelle Nunn:
Everyone has the power to make a difference in the world
Hands On Network is a growing family of organizations engaging more than half a million volunteers within and outside of the US.- Mission: Hands On Network brings people together to strengthen communities through meaningful volunteer action.
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Vision: We envision a day when everyone is inspired and equipped to be the change they seek in their communities.
Core Beliefs:-
Everyone has the power to make a difference in the world.
- Effective volunteer action is a path to a broader civic engagement.
- Engaged citizens are the cornerstone of a vibrant democracy.
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Service brings people together and bridges differences.
- Now is the time for action, innovation, and impact.
Source: Be the Change, by Michelle Nunn, p.311
Nov 1, 2006
Sandra Day O`Connor:
Served in Arizona as State Senator and trial judge
Sandra Day O'Connor, the 1st woman to be appointed to the US Supreme Court, serving from 1981 to 2006, is renowned for her political independence and pragmatic decisions. As a moderate conservative on a polarized court, she often casts the swing vote
on contentious issues. Prior to her nomination to the Supreme Court, O'Connor served in Arizona as assistant attorney general, trial judge, state senator, and member of the Arizona Court of Appeals.
Source: Be the Change, by Michelle Nunn, p.201
Nov 1, 2006
Page last updated: Jan 09, 2014